The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-19
COL. ALEX. MAJORS
Talks to a Reporter About
Life on the Plains.
THE FAMOUS FRONTIERsMAN
n
A "Reminiscences OF the D-ys Before
the Iron Horse Came Bound
ing Westward

A gentleman, who probably is better
acquainted with life on the plains in the
days before the railroads destroyed
what used to be known as the "Greal
American Desert" is in the city, re-
newing old associations and viewing
with wonder the growth Of the me-
tropolis, which was little more than an
insignificant hamlet when he first sal
foot in it. Colonel Alexander Majors
the gentleman referred to, yesterday
registered at the Hotel st. Louis. Al
though not a denizen of st. Louis. be
arrived in the town before most OF the
present citizens were born, and in this
place began a career OF enterprise and
adventure such as is vouchsafed to few.
He now bears his IS years as if time
could do no injury to his iron frame,
however it might whiten his locks. His
figure is as erect and his step as light
and active as if he were not half his
age, and his mind is as bright and his
memory as clear as if he were in his
prime.
A Globe Democrat reporter called upon
Colonel Majors yesterday, and obtained
from him an account OF some OF his ex-
periences.
Il was born" he said, "1n Kentucky,
and in 1919 my father emigrated to Mis-
souri,. we'll remember the day we
crossed the Mississippi, although | was
but a child at the time. The only
means of reaching the st. Louis side
was flatboat, rowed by three French
men. The current carried US far be-
yond our landing place, and we had to
be towed by two men TO the wharf. at
that time there were no houses beyond
Third Street, the residences being near
the river. From St. Louis we went to the
western part of the State, and settled
upon what at that time was the fore
most outposts of civilization. The
whole country west of the missouri was
regarded as hopeless desert, of no pos
sible value 70 mankind. Ny youth was
passed among the adventurous from
tiersmen, and became acquainted with
the western plains and mountains from
the tales | heard at my fathers fire.
side.
when l grew up | made frequent
excu rsions into the debatable land
which lay between civilization and bar
barism, but not until 1913 did l cross
Lu0 pldl1S, III bllOSC 10 . al uhAOA van
ing of difficulty and danger. In that
year 1 took wagon train to Santa Fe,
and for long period of time was en-
gagged IN traffic between independence,
Mo-, and New Mexico, sometimes
going as far south as Ell Paso. There
were in those days two great routes, the
Cimarron or dry trail,an that through
the Ration Pass. The usual time re
quired for a wagon train to make a
trip between Independence and Santa
Fe was fifty days by the Cimarron, and
about sixty by the better watered
Ration trail. l used to send out about
twenty-five wagons in train, with
about thirty men. A smaller number
would have been an easy prey to the
hostile Indians along the route. The
Comanches, Jicarrilla Apaches and
Bawnees are greatly dreaded, especially
the Pawnees, who, in the days before
fearful fight on the Republican, when
the Sioux and the Cheyennes broke
their power for all time, were among
the most ferocious enemies of the
whites.